Hangar Flying => Hangar Flying => Topic started by: pjuren on July 10, 2005, 10:52:01 PM
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: pjuren on July 10, 2005, 10:52:01 PM
LEWES, Del. - Two small planes practicing for an air show collided Sunday above Delaware Bay, killing at least one of the pilots, state police said.
Rescue crews retrieved one body and divers searched the waters near Cape Henlopen State Park for the other pilot until evening but were unable to locate the plane's wreckage, police said.
The two had been part of a six-plane formation of experimental "homemade kit" planes that took off from Sussex County Airport in Georgetown.
As the pilots practiced over the bay, Matt Colagreco and his grandparents watched from a ferry.
The six planes had been flying in two groups of three and crossed paths to merge momentarily, Colagreco said. After they came out of the merge, one pilot banked right in front of another and they collided, he said.
One plane turned over and nosedived into the water, and the other "was flopping out of control," Colagreco said.
"It was just like two toy planes hitting," said his grandmother, Nancy Beyers.
State police recovered the body of Jay Blume, 39, of Berwyn, Pa.
The other plane was registered to Ralph D. Morgan of Rehoboth Beach, Del., said Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. She said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating.
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: george on July 10, 2005, 11:13:01 PM
what part does it say eze or rv?
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: Anonymous on July 11, 2005, 11:56:50 AM
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: Drew on July 11, 2005, 06:38:36 PM
Try this link too http://www.airshows.org/profile_details.php?d=55
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: Anonymous on July 11, 2005, 07:25:27 PM
this is a link to a video of the crash: http://nbcsandiego.feedroom.com/index.jsp?fr_story=293415b4f830b1291a44a7287d287dd9df498f02
Title: EZ mid air
Post by: Charles Davis on July 11, 2005, 08:06:52 PM
Is there a possibity that the EZ was clipped by an opposing aircraft?
I thought it was notable that as soon as the opposing aircraft passed, the EZ drifted left as if the pilot couldn't do anything about it.
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: Drew on July 12, 2005, 03:39:14 PM
Hard to tell from the aspect----but....looks like the Longez drifted up out of his altitude block, got his left rudder clipped from the opposing RVs, uncontrol bank to the left and into his wingman. I read there was a 7th plane flying high over the formation---Frank P, was that you? Was there a 7th plane?
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: Anonymous on July 12, 2005, 08:27:35 PM
It appeared to me that the lead RV pitched up and into the LongEZ. You can see the RV pitching up sharply about 6 frames before the collision.
Waiter
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: fpullanojr on July 13, 2005, 09:58:34 AM
The LongEZ pilot was Jay Blum, The RV pilot was Ralph Morgan. They and I are members of the Vulture Formation Team. Please don't ask me what happend. All I will tell you is that two of the most superb pilots that I' have ever flown with both made a mistake at the same moment. With that said....
A memorial service will be held for Jay H Blum on Friday July 15th, 2005 @ 1:30 PM EDT. The Service will be held at St Peter's Church at St Peter's Episcopal School in Philadelphia, PA. 319 Lombard Street 19147 (3rd and Lombard Street)
The Church is on the corner of 3rd and Lombard and is a large Church attached to the school. Parking garages on the 200 block of Lombard Street.
Jays' wife Terry asks that NO flowers be sent but she asks that any memorial donations be made to: St. Andrew's School, Middletown, DE 19709
- Frank Pullano Jr VariEze N500EZ Atlantic City, NJ
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: Drew on July 13, 2005, 06:11:42 PM
Thanks for the info Frank. The first time I saw Jay was at the Winchester Flyin/Airshow last year. He and I were the only two longezs at that event. He had a VERY nice airplane. He and 3 RVs did several formation flybys with him in the slot---nice flying job by all. Thanks also for the update---and caution via Squadron III
Title: EZ-RV mid air
Post by: Anonymous on July 13, 2005, 07:19:27 PM
Quote from: "fpullanojr"
The LongEZ pilot was Jay Blum, The RV pilot was Ralph Morgan. They and I are members of the Vulture Formation Team. Please don't ask me what happend. All I will tell you is that two of the most superb pilots that I' have ever flown with both made a mistake at the same moment. With that said....
J
I have flown with Tim Berry in form more times than I can remember and know some of the Vulture members. They are very professional in their form work. Tim was one of the founders of the Vultures.
Whenever your flying tight form, gotta keep your SA at a high level. Even the best can make mistakes. Just check the stats at the Thunderbird and Blue Angel level.
They were doing what they loved doing. May they rest in peace!!